Produce industry headlines: October 1, 2026

Good afternoon! It’s Thursday, October 1, 2026, the start of the fourth quarter. Here’s what’s happening in produce and grocery today.

Read about HEB’s foot traffic success, Albertsons adds to its board, a survey shows retail’s challenges in fresh departments, the FDA commissioner nominee backs MAHA resources, Peruvian blueberry imports to U.S. surge, and USDA plans to expand produce exports to China.

As always, have something to share? Send us your feedback at news@bluebookservices.com.

Top Stories

H-E-B is king when it comes to store visits

The Texas retailer saw 6% year-over-year gains the first half of 2026, besting the 1% industry average, according to Placer.ai research.

Albertsons expands its board of directors again

Albertsons has named three new members to its board of directors, including Meg Ham, the former president of Food Lion.

Grocery retailers report confidence and challenges in fresh departments

A Logile survey of retail executives shows many report difficulties managing fresh operations, maintaining consistency, and getting a clear view of what is happening across stores.

RFK Jr’s food policy priorities need more resources to implement, FDA nominee says

The FDA lacks the resources needed to enact recent reforms championed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., said Heidi Overton, the nominee for FDA commissioner.

U.S. imports of Peruvian blueberries see 80 percent increase

Peru’s Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation says the export expansion reflects both higher shipment volumes and higher average value.

U.S. specialty crop exports target expanded access to China

According to USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg, items that could benefit include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, grapes, peaches, strawberries, blueberries, almonds, pistachios, and walnuts.